Cardiac heart physiology and function

¶ … Carol Emslie, MA, PhD, is a review of qualitative research studies pertaining to coronary heart disease. In particular, the review was aimed to assess if there is a gender specific focus in the studies about the experiences of people with coronary heart diseases. Thus, the review tries to infer from recent research the gender specific differences or the similarities in the perceptions of men and women suffering from CHD. In all, a total of 60 published qualitative research studies were included for the review. This review revealed that the number of qualitative studies on the subject have increased over the last few years. Further, the recent increase in studies involving female patients indicates a shift in perception from the researchers who had for so long considered CHD as a 'male disease'. Thus, one of the main aims of this review is to question the stereotypical view of CHD as a male disease.

This review also infers that the management of coronary heart disease would be more effective with a gender specific care plan. The conclusions drawn and the knowledge obtained from this research would be amply helpful for nursing staff involved in providing care for CHD patients as they would be better equipped to understand how patients of different gender react to symptoms, seek help, and how the differences could affect their rehabilitation. The author feels that there is an urgent need to change from the UK's current gender-neutral policy on CHD towards a more gender specific approach. This shift in focus is, in the author's opinion, is necessary to improve the overall quality of care and rehabilitation of CHD patients.

One of the main issues that prompted the author to conduct such an exhaustive literature review was to gather evidence for a gender-based experience of CHD and to clarify the need for a gender-based care plan. It is obvious from the research that the author is convinced that a gender neutral care plan is not the optimal care plan for CHD and the review is done to gather evidence for such an assumption. The entire literature was segregated into three sections based on the subjects being 1) only male, 2) only female and 3) both male and female patients. The research also points out the largely unconsidered aspect of 'macho psychology' and its effect on men from seeking healthcare. Of particular significance was the inference from many studies that women tend to be less serious about the symptoms of heart problem. Cultural beliefs and their position in the family as responsible homemakers make them naturally less inclined to pass on the burden to others. (Johnson & Morse 1990) Women tend to ignore their symptoms and they are more worried about their spouses and children. (Svedlund et al. 2001).

The author stresses that CHD tends to be perceived as a 'male disease' by the patients and in some instances by doctors as well. For instance, Thomas (1994) reported that female patients complained about physicians taking them lightly while LaCharity (1997) reported that postmenopausal women were angry that their CHD symptoms were ignored and attributed to stress, muscle spasm, indigestion and other minor conditions. LaCharity (1999) concluded that most women considered themselves safe from CHD until their menopause.